Refrigerator display counter



Aug. 1' 1924.

A. H. EHRLICH REFRIGERATOR DISPLAY counr Filed Oct.

12 3.921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mesms A. H. EHRLICH REFRIGERATOR DI SPLAY GUUNTER Filed Oct. 12, 1921' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT H. EI-IRLIQI-I, OF ST. JOSEPH, INIISSOURI.

REFRIGERATOR DISPLAY COUNTER.

Application filed October 12 1921. fierial No. 507,255.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. EHRLICH,

residing at St. Joseph, county of Buchanan, and State of Missouri, and a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerator Display Counters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to refrigerators, and more particularly to display counters.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of the tank, whereby a much larger cooling surface ispresented to effect a greater circulation of cool air through the refrigerator. I

A further object is to arrange a drainage system whereby the overflow liquid from the ice container is caused to circulate across the bottom of the refrigerator, thereby increasing the cooling effect upon the contents of the refrigerator.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal view partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a transverse longitudinal section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the refrigerator and tank;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of the tank;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged end view of the tank;

6 is a plan view of the drain-pan.

The numeral 1 represents a refrigerator case having suitable transparent and mirror panels 2 and 3, respectively, to properly display the contents of the refrigerator. The case is divided into two end food compartments 4, 4, and a central compartment 5. Dividing these compartments are partitions, preferably consisting of upper slatted portions 6, and a perforated lower portion 7, sufficient space being allowed at the upper edges of the partitions to create a circulation between the several compartments. The out;

' er end of each of the end compartments 4 is preferably provided with an arcuate end plate 8 as shown, which serves to effect a more complete air circulation within the compartment.

Arranged horizontally and centrally of the end compartments are perforated shelves 10 and 11, shelves 10 being arranged at the lower edge of the slatted partition 6, while the shelves 11 are spaced a suitable distance from the bottom ofthe refrigerator.

The cooling chamber 5 is provided with an apex bottom 12 to directthe cool air toward the bottom of the food chamber. The numeral 13 indicates a track running transversely of the chamber 5, and removably received upon the track is an ice-receptacle 14. This receptacle preferably consists of a substantially rectangular tank, the bottom of which is cut away as at 15 forming an air chamber beneath the tank, and forming legs 16, 16, adapted to rest upon the track 13.

To facilitate the removal of the tank for re-icing, I preferably arrange, on the under side of the legs 16, rollers 17 preferably placed at the rear of the tank, the front end of the tank being adapted to rest upon the rollers 18 supported by the track 13. The rollers atthe same time act as a stop to limit the outward movement of the tank,

when being drawn out, at the rear of the refrigerator, for re-icing.

Rollers 19 are placed at the upper edge of the tank toward the front of the case, and are adapted to roll upon the ceiling of the refrigerator to prevent the tank fromtipping forward when being withdrawn. A handle-bar 20 is placed horizontally of the rear wall of the tank as a means for removing the tank.

To increase the cooling area of the tank, I preferably provide the side-walls thereof with vertically-arranged notches or recesses 21 extending the full length thereof. The end walls are likewise provided with recesses 22. Arranged in the recess 22 at the lower end of each leg 16 of the tank, I place a drain-valve 23. An overflow 24 is like- Wise arranged in the recess 22, being con nected to the tank at a height equal to the height of the transverse recess 15. Directly above the apex of the transverse recess in the bottom, I place suitable supporting rods 15' acting as a support for the ice, as it melts to prevent it from getting down into the brine. Therefore, when the ice is ut into the tank, and is salted, the tank ecomes half filled with brine water. This brine water being cooler than the ice absorbs a great deal of heat, and in order not to lose the effects of this cold brine draining from the tank, I preferably arrange in each of the food compartments an overflow receptacle 25. As shown in Fig. 1, the inner ends of the receptacles extend beneath the tank, and are in communication with the overflow pipe. To increase the travel of the brine through the overflow receptacle, I preferably provide a suitable L-shaped partition 26, the outer end thereof being spaced from the end of the trough, thus forming a continuous channel 28 from one end of the receptacle to the opposite end, and back to'the outlet 29, the outlet 29 communicating with the removable drain-pans 30.

It will thus be seen that I have constructed a display refrigerator wherein the food contents thereof will receive a maximum amount of cold air; and I have so constructed the ice container that it will absorb the maximum amount of heat from 1 the refrigerator, provision being made for readily and conveniently re-icing the ice container without interfering in any way with the contents of the refrigerator.

I claim:

An ice container of substantially rectangular form, the side walls thereof being provided with vertically arranged recesses and a transverse recess arranged in the bottom thereof, the said transverse recess converging to approximately half the height of said container, drainage cocks arranged at the bottom of said container on either side of said transverse recess, and an outlet for said container, said outlet being arranged at an approximately horizontal line with the highest part of the said transverse recess.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ALBERT H. EHRLICH. 

